Head and Shoulders of a Woman and Another Head 

Editor: This is Sir David Wilkie's "Head and Shoulders of a Woman and Another Head," from the Tate Collections, a brown ink wash on paper. It feels so intimate, like a stolen glance. What do you see in this sketch? Curator: I see a reflection of 19th-century society's complex relationship with women. The obscured face hints at the erasure and objectification women often faced. How does the incompleteness of the sketch challenge our understanding of representation and power? Editor: It's interesting how you read the second head as erased, rather than just unfinished. Curator: Exactly! Consider the historical context: women were often relegated to the background. This piece invites us to question the narratives we construct around identity and visibility. What does this imply for the contemporary gaze? Editor: I see your point. I'll never look at unfinished sketches the same way again! Curator: And hopefully, we can carry these insights into our perception of contemporary social dynamics as well.